U.S. patent application number 11/132337 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for ventilating system.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Ho Seon Choi, Baik Young Chung, Jeong Yong Kim, Kyung Hwan Kim, Gi Seop Lee.
Application Number | 20060199511 11/132337 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36570830 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060199511 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chung; Baik Young ; et
al. |
September 7, 2006 |
Ventilating system
Abstract
The present invention relates to ventilating systems, and more
particularly, to a ventilating system having a heat exchanger for
exchanging heat of room air being discharged to an outside of a
room with heat of outdoor air supplied to the room. The present
invention provides a ventilating system including a case having a
first flow passage for guiding outdoor air to a room, and a second
flow passage for guiding room air to an outside of the room, and a
fan unit in the case, the fan unit having a first side for drawing
the outdoor air from the first flow passage, a second side for
drawing the room air, and a circumferential side for discharging
the outdoor air drawn through the first side to the room, and
discharging the room air drawn through the second side to an
outside of the room.
Inventors: |
Chung; Baik Young;
(Incheon-si, KR) ; Kim; Kyung Hwan; (Uiwang-si,
KR) ; Kim; Jeong Yong; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Gi
Seop; (Seoul, KR) ; Choi; Ho Seon; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
36570830 |
Appl. No.: |
11/132337 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/237 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 12/006 20130101;
Y02B 30/563 20130101; F24F 2221/14 20130101; F24F 2012/007
20130101; Y02B 30/56 20130101; F24F 13/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/237 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/00 20060101
F24F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2005 |
KR |
P2005-14457 |
Claims
1. A ventilating system comprising: a case having a first flow
passage for guiding outdoor air to a room, and a second flow
passage for guiding room air to an outside of the room; and a fan
unit in the case, the fan unit having a first side for drawing the
outdoor air from the first flow passage, a second side for drawing
the room air, and a circumferential side for discharging the
outdoor air drawn through the first side to the room, and
discharging the room air drawn through the second side to an
outside of the room.
2. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
side and the second side are opposite.
3. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan
unit includes; a first fan for drawing the outdoor air through the
first side and supplying the outdoor air to the room, and a second
fan for drawing the room air through the second side and
discharging to an outside of the room.
4. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first
fan and the second fan rotate around the same shaft.
5. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a heat exchanger in the case for making the outdoor air supplied to
the room, and the room air discharged to the outside of the room to
heat exchange.
6. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
outdoor air passes through the heat exchanger before the outdoor
air is drawn into the first fan, and the room air passes through
the heat exchanger after the room air is discharged from the second
fan.
7. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising
an air supply scroll in the case, for housing the first fan and
guiding the air drawn into the first fan, and an air discharge
scroll separated from the air supply scroll, for housing the second
fan and guiding the air drawn into the second fan.
8. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air
supply scroll and the air discharge scroll include sides each
having an outlet for discharging the air drawn by the first fan or
the second fan to the room.
9. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air
supply scroll includes an inlet space formed as one side of the air
supply scroll is spaced a predetermined distance away from an
inside surface of the case, to make the air supply scroll and the
first flow passage in communication.
10. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inlet
space includes an upward slope for reducing a flow resistance of
the air flowing from the first flow passage to the inlet space.
11. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air
discharge scroll includes a side having an air discharge space in
communication with the second flow passage formed therein.
12. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 5, further
comprising a bypass flow passage for bypassing the heat exchanger
such that the outdoor air is supplied to the first fan directly
without passing through the heat exchanger.
13. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 9, further
comprising a first damper for opening/closing the inlet space.
14. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 11, further
comprising a second damper for opening/closing the air discharge
space.
15. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 12, further
comprising a third damper for opening/closing the bypass flow
passage.
16. A ventilating system comprising: a fan unit room having a first
fan for drawing outdoor air in an axial direction, and discharging
the outdoor air in a radial direction, and a second fan arranged
over or under the first fan in parallel to the first fan, for
drawing room air in an axial direction and discharging the room air
in a radial direction, mounted therein; an air supply flow passage
making the room and an outside of the room in communication for
guiding the outdoor air to the room by using the first fan; and an
air discharge flow passage making the room and an outside of the
room in communication for guiding the room air to the outside of
room by using the second fan.
17. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fan
unit room includes; a first space for housing the first fan, and a
second space spaced from the first space for housing the second
fan.
18. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the
second fan has an air flow rate greater than an air flow rate of
the first fan.
19. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the
first space includes one side having an inlet space formed therein
with a predetermined opened portion so as to be in communication
with the air supply flow passage, and the second space includes one
side having an air discharge space formed therein with a
predetermined opened portion so as to be in communication with the
air discharge flow passage.
20. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fan
unit room has a side having an outlet for discharging drawn air to
the room.
21. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 16, further
comprising a heat transfer space for making the air being drawn
into the room and the air being discharged to an outside of the
room to heat exchange, and a bypass flow passage for the air being
drawn into the room not to pass through, but to bypass the heat
transfer space.
22. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the
bypass flow passage includes a bypass damper for opening/closing
the bypass flow passage.
23. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the air
supply flow passage includes an air supply damper for
opening/closing the air supply flow passage.
24. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the air
discharge flow passage includes an air discharge damper for
opening/closing the air discharge flow passage.
25. A ventilating system comprising: a case having an air supply
flow passage for guiding outdoor air to the room, and an air
discharge flow passage for guiding room air to an outside of the
room; a double suction type centrifugal fan having an air supply
fan for drawing the outdoor air through the air supply flow
passage, and an air discharge fan for drawing the room air and
discharging a portion of the room air to an outside of the room
through the air discharge flow passage, and discharging the rest to
the room, wherein the air discharge fan has a height greater than a
height of the air supply fan, and the air supply fan and the air
discharge fan are arranged in an up/down direction; a heat
exchanger for making the air being drawn into the room and the air
being discharged to an outside of the room to heat exchange; and a
bypass flow passage for making the air being drawn into the room,
not to pass through, but to bypass the heat exchanger, such that
the air is drawn into the air supply fan, directly.
26. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 25, further
comprising an air supply scroll in the case, for housing the air
supply fan and guiding the air drawn into the air supply fan, and
an air discharge scroll separated from the air supply scroll, for
housing the air discharge fan and guiding the air drawn into the
air discharge fan.
27. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the air
supply scroll includes an inlet space formed as one side of the air
supply scroll is spaced away from an inside surface of the case so
as to be in communication with the air supply flow passage, and the
air discharge scroll includes one side having an air discharge
space in communication with the air discharge flow passage formed
therein.
28. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the air
supply scroll and the air discharge scroll each has an outlet for
discharging drawn air to the room.
29. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 25, further
comprising: a bypass damper for opening/closing the bypass flow
passage, an air supply damper for opening/closing the air supply
flow passage, and an air discharge damper for controlling an air
flow rate passing through the an discharge flow passage.
30. The ventilating system as claimed in claim 25, further
comprising: an air cleaning filter for filtering outdoor air being
supplied to the room through the air supply fan, and room air being
discharged to the room through the air discharge fan.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
No. P2005-0014457 filed on Feb. 22, 2005, which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to ventilating systems, and
more particularly, to a ventilating system having a heat exchanger
for exchanging heat of room air being discharged to an outside of a
room with heat of outdoor air supplied to the room.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Air in a closed room is gradually polluted as time passes-by
due to respiration of people in the room. Therefore, it is required
to replace the polluted room air with fresh outdoor air, for which
the ventilating system is provided.
[0006] In general, the ventilating system is installed in a ceiling
in the room. Accordingly, an adequate space is required for
installation of the ventilating system, to require a great height
between floors of adjacent flats, i.e., a flat height, which
impairs spatial efficiency and economy of a building.
[0007] In the meantime, recently, for improving a living condition
of the room, not only the ventilating system, but also an air
cleaner, are started to be used, for cleaning room air.
Accordingly, in order to solve such a problem, it is required to
design the ventilating system smaller as far as possible.
[0008] In the meantime, recently, for improving heat efficiency,
the ventilating system is provided with a pre-heat exchanger for
making heat of room air being discharged to an outside of a room
and heat of outdoor air being supplied to the room to heat
exchange. However, the pre-heat exchanger can not but make the case
of the ventilating system larger. Therefore, it is required to
design a compact ventilating system while employing the pre-heat
exchanger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
ventilating system that substantially obviates one or more problems
due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a
ventilating system of which size is small.
[0011] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0012] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a ventilating system includes a case
having a first flow passage for guiding outdoor air to a room, and
a second flow passage for guiding room air to an outside of the
room, and a fan unit in the case, the fan unit having a first side
for drawing the outdoor air from the first flow passage, a second
side for drawing the room air, and a circumferential side for
discharging the outdoor air drawn through the first side to the
room, and discharging the room air drawn through the second side to
an outside of the room.
[0013] The first side and the second side are opposite.
[0014] The fan unit includes a first fan for drawing the outdoor
air through the first side and supplying the outdoor air to the
room, and a second fan for drawing the room air through the second
side and discharging to an outside of the room. The first fan and
the second fan rotate around the same shaft.
[0015] The ventilating system further includes a heat exchanger in
the case for making the outdoor air supplied to the room, and the
room air discharged to the outside of the room to heat
exchange.
[0016] The ventilating system further includes an air supply scroll
in the case, for housing the first fan and guiding the air drawn
into the first fan, and an air discharge scroll separated from the
air supply scroll, for housing the second fan and guiding the air
drawn into the second fan.
[0017] The air supply scroll and the air discharge scroll include
sides each having an outlet for discharging the air drawn by the
first fan or the second fan to the room.
[0018] The air supply scroll includes an inlet space formed as one
side of the air supply scroll is spaced a predetermined distance
away from an inside surface of the case, to make the air supply
scroll and the first flow passage in communication. The inlet space
includes an upward slope for reducing a flow resistance of the air
flowing from the first flow passage to the inlet space.
[0019] The air discharge scroll includes a side having an air
discharge space in communication with the second flow passage
formed therein.
[0020] The ventilating system further includes a bypass flow
passage for bypassing the heat exchanger such that the outdoor air
is supplied to the first fan directly without passing through the
heat exchanger.
[0021] The ventilating system further includes a first damper for
opening/closing the inlet space.
[0022] The ventilating system further includes a second damper for
opening/closing the air discharge space.
[0023] The ventilating system further includes a third damper for
opening/closing the bypass flow passage.
[0024] In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilating
system includes a fan unit room having a first fan for drawing
outdoor air in an axial direction, and discharging the outdoor air
in a radial direction, and a second fan arranged over or under the
first fan in parallel to the first fan, for drawing room air in an
axial direction and discharging the room air in a radial direction,
mounted therein, an air supply flow passage making the room and an
outside of the room in communication for guiding the outdoor air to
the room by using the first fan, and an air discharge flow passage
making the room and an outside of the room in communication for
guiding the room air to the outside of room by using the second
fan.
[0025] The fan unit room includes a first space for housing the
first fan, and a second space spaced from the first space for
housing the second fan.
[0026] The second fan has an air flow rate greater than an air flow
rate of the first fan.
[0027] The first space includes one side having an inlet space
formed therein with a predetermined opened portion so as to be in
communication with the air supply flow passage, and the second
space includes one side having an air discharge space formed
therein with a predetermined opened portion so as to be in
communication with the air discharge flow passage.
[0028] The fan unit room has a side having an outlet for
discharging drawn air to the room.
[0029] The ventilating system further includes a heat transfer
space for making the air being drawn into the room and the air
being discharged to an outside of the room to heat exchange, and a
bypass flow passage for the air being drawn into the room not to
pass through, but to bypass the heat transfer space.
[0030] The bypass flow passage includes a bypass damper for
opening/closing the bypass flow passage. The air supply flow
passage includes an air supply damper for opening/closing the air
supply flow passage. The air discharge flow passage includes an air
discharge damper for opening/closing the air discharge flow
passage.
[0031] In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilating
system includes a case having an air supply flow passage for
guiding outdoor air to the room, and an air discharge flow passage
for guiding room air to an outside of the room, a double suction
type centrifugal fan having an air supply fan for drawing the
outdoor air through the air supply flow passage, and an air
discharge fan for drawing the room air and discharging a portion of
the room air to an outside of the room through the air discharge
flow passage, and discharging the rest to the room, wherein the air
discharge fan has a height greater than a height of the air supply
fan, and the air supply fan and the air discharge fan are arranged
in an up/down direction, a heat exchanger for making the air being
drawn into the room and the air being discharged to an outside of
the room to heat exchange, and a bypass flow passage for making the
air being drawn into the room, not to pass through, but to bypass
the heat exchanger, such that the air is drawn into the air supply
fan, directly.
[0032] The ventilating system further includes an air supply scroll
in the case, for housing the air supply fan and guiding the air
drawn into the air supply fan, and an air discharge scroll
separated from the air supply scroll, for housing the air discharge
fan and guiding the air drawn into the air discharge fan.
[0033] The air supply scroll includes an inlet space formed as one
side of the air supply scroll is spaced away from an inside surface
of the case so as to be in communication with the air supply flow
passage, and the air discharge scroll includes one side having an
air discharge space in communication with the air discharge flow
passage formed therein.
[0034] The air supply scroll and the air discharge scroll each has
an outlet for discharging drawn air to the room.
[0035] The ventilating system further includes a bypass damper for
opening/closing the bypass flow passage, an air supply damper for
opening/closing the air supply flow passage, and an air discharge
damper for controlling an air flow rate passing through the an
discharge flow passage.
[0036] The ventilating system further includes an air cleaning
filter for filtering outdoor air being supplied to the room through
the air supply fan, and room air being discharged to the room
through the air discharge fan.
[0037] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings;
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a ventilating
system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates an underside perspective view the
ventilating system in FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the heat exchanger
in FIG. 1;
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a section of the ventilating system in
FIG. 3 across a line I-I; and
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a section of the ventilating system in
FIG. 3 across a line II-II.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0044] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0045] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate perspective views of ventilating
systems in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a state an upper portion of a body is
opened for the sake of description.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilating system includes
a case 100 and a fan unit. The case 100 has a box shape with an
inside space.
[0047] It is preferable that the case 100 is attached to a ceiling
of a room, and preferably, has a small height h.sub.0 and a large
width for reducing a ceiling height required for installation of
the case 100.
[0048] The case 100 has a first flow passage 110 for guiding
outdoor air to the room, and a second flow passage for guiding room
air to an outside of the room. That is, the first flow passage 110
is an air supply flow passage 110, and the second flow passage 120
is an air discharge flow passage 120 for discharging room air to an
outside of room.
[0049] Arrows with solid lines represent a flow path of outdoor air
being supplied to the room, and arrows with dashed lines represent
a flow path of room air being discharged to outside of room. The
air supply flow path 110 and the air discharge flow path 120 are
separated for preventing air flowing respective flow passages from
mixing.
[0050] In order to reduce a height of the case 100, the air supply
flow passage 110 and the air discharge flow passage 120 are
separated on left and right sides of the case 100. Moreover, the
air supply flow passage 110 and the air discharge flow passage 120
are crossed at a predetermined portion of the case 100.
[0051] The fan unit is in the case 100, and has a first side for
drawing outdoor air from the air supply flow passage 110, a second
side for drawing the room air, and a circumference for discharging
outdoor air drawn through the first side to the room, and
discharging room air drawn through a second side to an outside of
the room.
[0052] In more detail, referring to FIG. 4, the fan unit includes a
first fan 114 for drawing outdoor air through the first side and
supplying to the room, and a second fan 124 for drawing room air
through a second side and discharging to an outside of the
room.
[0053] The first side is in communication with the air supply flow
passage 110 and the second side is in communication with the room.
A circumference of the first fan 114 is in communication with the
room, and a circumference of the second fan 124 is in communication
with the air discharge flow passage 120.
[0054] Preferably, the first side and the second side are opposite
to each other, and both the first fan 114 and the second fan 124
discharge air to respective circumferences.
[0055] Accordingly, the first fan 114 draws outdoor air from the
air supply flow passage 110 through the first side, and the second
fan 124 draws room air through the second side and discharges to
the discharge flow passage 120.
[0056] It is preferable that the first fan 114 and the second fan
124 rotate around the same shaft. It is preferable that the first
side is an upper side of the first fan 114, and the second side is
a lower side of the second fan 124. Thus, the first fan 114 is an
air supply fan 114 for supplying outdoor air to the room, and the
second fan 124 is an air discharge fan 124 for discharging room air
to an outside of the room.
[0057] More preferably, the fan unit is a double suction type
centrifugal fan. The double suction fan has the air supply fan 114
which draws outdoor air into the room, and the air discharge fan
124 which discharges room air to an outside of the room, arranged
horizontally in an up/down direction.
[0058] More preferably, the air supply fan 114 is arranged on an
upper side and the air discharge fan 124 is arranged on a lower
side. Moreover, the air supply fan 114 and the air discharge fan
124 have the same shaft, and are of a centrifugal type which draws
air through a center portion and discharges the air in a radial
direction.
[0059] It is preferable that the air supply fan 114 and the air
discharge fan 124 are driven with a single motor. For the sake of
convenience, the motor is not shown in the drawings.
[0060] The air supply fan 114 and the air discharge fan 124
arranged in up/down direction have a side of the air supply fan 114
for drawing outdoor air and a side of the air discharge fan 124 for
drawing room air positioned opposite to each other.
[0061] As the air supply fan 114 is arranged on an upper side, and
the air discharge fan 124 is arranged on a lower side, the side of
the air supply fan 114 for drawing the outdoor air is on an upper
side, and the side of the air discharge fan 124 for drawing room
air is on a lower side.
[0062] In the case 100, there is a fan unit room 140 the fan unit
is mounted therein.
[0063] The fan unit room 140 includes a first space 142 and a
second space 144. The first space 142 accommodates the air supply
fan 114, and guides air being drawn toward the air supply fan 114.
The second space 144 accommodates the air discharge fan 124 and
guides air being drawn toward the air discharge fan 124.
[0064] The second space 144 is separated from the first space 142,
for preventing the air in the first space 142 from mixing with the
air in the second space 144.
[0065] That is, the first space 142 having the air supply fan 114
accommodated therein is as an air supply scroll 142 for serving as
a housing of the air supply fan 114, and the second space 144
having the air discharge fan 124 accommodated therein is an air
discharge scroll 144 for serving as a housing of the air discharge
fan 124.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 1, moreover, in the case 100, there is a
heat transfer space 130 for making outdoor air being supplied the
room and room air being discharged to an outside of the room to
heat exchange.
[0067] It is preferable that the heat exchange portion 130 is
formed in front of the fan unit room 140 with reference to a flow
direction of the outdoor air supplied to the room. This is for
arranging the fan unit room 140 and the heat transfer space at the
same level for reducing a total height h.sub.0 of the case 100.
[0068] In the heat transfer space, there is a heat exchanger 132.
The heat exchanger 132 makes the outdoor air drawn into the room
and the room air discharged to an outside of the room to cross and
heat exchange, indirectly. In more detail, referring to FIG. 3, the
heat exchanger 132 includes a plurality of air discharge passages
136 each spaced a predetermined distance away from each other for
flow of the room air discharged to an outside of the room, and a
plurality of air supply passages 134 between the air discharge
passages 136 for flow of the outdoor air drawn into the room.
[0069] There is a plate 138 between the air supply passage 134 and
the air discharge passage 136, for separating the air supply
passage 134 from the air discharge passage 136, and making the air
passing through the air supply passage 134 and the air discharge
passage 136 to heat exchange. The air supply passage 134 and the
air discharge passage 136 cross perpendicular to each other.
[0070] The air supply passage 134 is in communication with the air
supply flow passage 110, and the air discharge passage 136 is in
communication with the air discharge flow passage 120. Therefore,
the air supply flow passage 110 and the air discharge flow passage
120 cross in the heat exchanger 132, and to make the air flowing
therein to heat exchange.
[0071] In the meantime, referring to FIG. 4, the centrifugal type
air supply fan 114 draws outdoor air at a center of upper side
thereof in an axial direction. Accordingly, a portion of an upper
side of the air supply scroll 142 opposite to the center of the air
supply fan 114 is opened, to form an outdoor air inlet 116.
[0072] For making the outdoor air inlet 116 in communication with
the air supply flow passage 110, the upper side of the air supply
scroll 142 is spaced a predetermined distance from an inside
surface of the case 100.
[0073] According to this, between the upper side of the air supply
scroll 142 and the inside surface of the case 100, there is a space
in communication with the air supply flow passage 110, which will
be called as an inlet space 112. Particularly, a boundary of the
fan unit room 140 and the heat transfer space of the inlet space
112 is called as an inlet 112a of the inlet space 112.
[0074] In the meantime, since the air supply scroll 142 is over the
air discharge scroll 144, the inlet 112a of the inlet space has a
difference of height from the bottom of the case 100 more or less,
to cause a flow resistance of the air guided to the room from the
air supply flow passage 110.
[0075] Moreover, because the inlet space 112 has a sectional area
smaller than a sectional area of the air supply flow passage of the
heat transfer space 130, to cause a flow resistance when the
outdoor air flows from the air supply flow passage 110 to the inlet
space 112.
[0076] Therefore, in order to moderate the flow resistance of the
air, it is preferable that the inlet 112a of the inlet space has a
upwardly sloped surface toward the fan unit room 140. That is,
because the outdoor air in the vicinity of the inlet space 112 is
guided to the inlet space 112 by the sloped surface of the inlet
112a of the inlet space, the flow resistance of the air is
reduced.
[0077] Moreover, the centrifugal type air discharge fan 124 draws
room air in an axial direction at a center of a bottom thereof.
Accordingly, a portion of a bottom surface of the air discharge
scroll 144 opposite to the center of the air discharge fan 124 is
opened, to form a room air inlet 126.
[0078] In this instance, it is preferable that the room air inlet
126 is exposed to the room to draw air directly, the room air inlet
126 may be provided with a separate duct connected thereto to
communicate with the room, indirectly.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 5, the air discharge scroll 144 has one
side having an air discharge space 122 formed therein for
discharging the air from a circumference of the air discharge fan
124 to the air discharge flow passage 120.
[0080] The air discharge space 122 is formed as one side of the air
discharge scroll 144 adjoining to the heat transfer space 130 is
opened such that the air discharge scroll 144 and the air discharge
flow passage 120 are in communication.
[0081] After the room air is drawn into the air discharge scroll
144 by a suction force of the air discharge fan 124, a portion
thereof is discharged to the air discharge flow passage 120 through
the air discharge space 122, and the rest is re-circulates the room
through the outlet 146.
[0082] It is preferable that an air flow rate of the air discharge
fan 124 is greater than an air flow rate of the air supply fan 114.
This is for making a balance between the air flow rate supplied to
the room and the air flow rate discharged from the room because
only a portion of the room air drawn by the air discharge fan 124
is discharged to an outside of the room through the air discharge
flow passage 120, and the rest re-circulates the room, while all
the room air drawn at the air supply fan 114 is discharged to the
room.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 4, in order to make the air flow rate of
the air discharge fan 124 greater than the air flow rate of the air
supply fan 114, a height h.sub.1 of the air discharge fan is formed
higher than a height h.sub.2 of the air supply fan.
[0084] However, the methods for making the air flow rate of the air
discharge fan 124 greater than the air flow rate of the air supply
fan 114 are not limited to above, but the air flow rate of the air
discharge fan 124 may be made greater by using other methods.
[0085] The outlet 146 has an air cleaning filter 150 mounted
thereon, for filtering air discharged from the air supply fan 114
and the air discharge fan 124 to the room.
[0086] Though it is preferable that air cleaning filter 150 is an
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor) or an ULPA (Ultra Low
Penetration Absolute), which have high dust filtering efficiency,
the air cleaning filter 150 is not limited to this.
[0087] Referring to FIG. 1, the ventilating system may further
include a bypass flow passage 160 so that the outdoor air is
supplied to the air supply fan 114 directly bypassing the heat
exchanger 132. The bypass flow passage is provided at one side of
the case 100, so as to be in communication with the inlet space 112
and an outside of the room.
[0088] The ventilating system of the present invention further
includes a first damper 118 for opening/closing the air supply flow
passage 110, a second damper 128 for opening/closing the air
discharge flow passage 120, and a third damper 168 for
opening/closing the bypass flow passage 160.
[0089] In more detail, the first damper 118 opens/closes the air
supply flow passage 110 for cutting off or passing the outdoor air
being drawn toward the room. Though it is preferable that the first
damper 118 is mounted on an entrance of the inlet space 112, the
mounting position is not limited to this, and the first damper 118
will be called as an air supply damper 118.
[0090] The second damper 128 opens/closes the air discharge flow
passage 120, to cut off or pass the room air being discharged to an
outside of the room. Though it is preferable that the second damper
128 is mounted at the discharge space 122, the mounting position of
the second damper 128 is not limited to this, and will be called as
a air discharge damper 128.
[0091] It is preferable that degrees of opening of the air
discharge damper is controllable for controlling the air flow rate
of the room air discharged to an outside of the room.
[0092] The third damper 168 opens/closes the bypass flow passage
160, to cut off or pass the room air being supplied to the air
supply fan 114 through the bypass flow passage 160, and will be
called as a bypass damper 168.
[0093] The operation of the ventilating system of the present
invention will be described.
[0094] The ventilating system has three operation modes of a heat
exchange mode, a bypass mode, and an exclusive room air cleaning
mode.
[0095] The heat exchange mode will be described.
[0096] The heat exchange mode is an operation mode to be performed
when there is a great difference of temperatures between the room
air and the outdoor air, such as a summer time or a winder time,
for reducing an energy loss coming from cooling/heating of the room
for moderating a temperature change of the room air when the room
is ventilated due to excessive pollution, such as excessively high
concentration of CO.sub.2 of the room air.
[0097] In the heat exchange mode, the air supply damper 118 and the
air discharge damper 128 are opened, the bypass damper 168 is
closed. Therefore, the outdoor air is supplied through the air
supply flow passage 110, and the room air is discharged through the
air discharge flow passage 120. Since the bypass flow passage 160
is closed, no air flows therethrough.
[0098] It is preferable that the air discharge damper 128 is opened
to the maximum, because it is favorable to discharge the room air
to the maximum.
[0099] Then, the motors are put into operation, to drive the air
supply fan 114 and the air discharge fan 124. The air supply fan
114 draws outdoor air through the air supply flow passage 110, and
the air discharge fan 124 draws room air through the room air inlet
126.
[0100] A flow path of the outdoor air supplied to the room will be
described.
[0101] The outdoor air drawn into the air flow passage by the air
supply fan 114 passes through the air supply passage 134 of the
heat exchanger 132. The outdoor air passed through the heat
exchanger 132 flows to the inlet space 112 through the sloped
surface of the inlet space 112, and is drawn into a center of the
air supply fan 114 through the outdoor air inlet 116 in the upper
surface of the air supply scroll 142.
[0102] The outdoor air drawn into the air supply fan 114 is
discharged to a circumferential direction of the air supply fan
114, and, therefrom, to the room through the outlet 146. In this
instance, the outdoor air passes through, and filtered at the air
cleaning filter 150.
[0103] A flow path of the room air discharged to an outside of the
room will be described.
[0104] The room air is drawn to the center of the air discharge fan
124 through the room air inlet 126 by the air discharge fan
124.
[0105] The drawn room air is discharged to a circumferential
direction of the air discharge fan 124, a portion of which
re-circulates the room through the outlet 146 in the side of the
air discharge scroll 144, and the rest is discharged to the air
discharge flow passage 120 through the air discharge space 122 at
one side of the air discharge scroll 144.
[0106] In this instance, the room air re-circulating the room
passes through, and filtered at the air cleaning filter 150 mounted
on the outlet 146.
[0107] The room air discharged to the air discharge flow passage
120 heat exchanges with the outdoor air passing through the air
supply passage 134 while the room air passes through the air
discharge passage 136 of the heat exchanger 132, and is discharged
to an outside of the room.
[0108] Therefore, a portion of the room air drawn thus is filtered,
and re-circulates, and the rest is discharged to an outside of the
room. The outdoor air drawn thus is cooled or heated as the outdoor
air passes through the heat exchanger 132, so as to be involved in
reduction of a temperature difference from the room air, filtered
and discharged to the room.
[0109] Since the air discharge damper 128 is opened to the maximum,
of the room air drawn by the air discharge fan 124, the portion of
the room air re-circulating the room is minimized, the portion of
the room air discharged to an outside of the room through the heat
exchanger 132 is maximized, such that a ventilated rate of the room
air and a rate of air making heat exchange with the room air is
maximized.
[0110] The bypass mode will be described.
[0111] The bypass mode is an operation mode for reducing an energy
loss coming from flow resistances of the heat exchanger 132, and so
on, in a case ventilating is required due to excessive pollution,
such as excessive CO2 concentration of the room air, when heat
exchange through the heat exchanger 132 is not required necessarily
owing to not a great temperature difference between the room and
outside of the room in spring or autumn.
[0112] In the bypass mode, the air supply damper 118 is closed, and
the air discharge damper 128 and the bypass damper 168 are opened.
Accordingly, the outdoor air is supplied through the bypass damper
168, and the room air is discharged through the air discharge flow
passage 120. Since the air supply flow passage 110 is closed, no
air flows therethrough.
[0113] Degrees of opening of the air discharge damper 128 is
controlled by a controller.
[0114] When the motors are put into operation to drive the air
supply fan 114 and the air discharge fan 124, the air supply fan
114 draws outdoor air through the bypass flow passage 160, and the
air discharge fan 124 draws room air through the room air inlet
126.
[0115] A flow path of the outdoor air supplied to the room will be
described.
[0116] The outdoor air is drawn by the air supply fan 114 through
the bypass flow passage 160. As the bypass flow passage 160
bypasses the heat exchanger 132 to communication with the inlet
space 112 directly, the outdoor air is drawn from the bypass flow
passage 160 to the air supply fan 114 directly through the outdoor
air inlet 116 without passing through the heat exchanger 132.
[0117] The outdoor air drawn to the air supply fan 114 is
discharged in a direction of a circumference of the air supply fan
114, and, therefrom, discharged to the room through the outlet 146.
In this instance, the outdoor air passes through, and filtered at
the air cleaning filter 150 at the outlet 146.
[0118] In general, a flow resistance occurs when air passes through
the air supply passage 134 and the air discharge passage 136 of the
heat exchanger 132. However, in the bypass mode of the ventilating
system of the present invention, since no outdoor air passes
through the heat exchanger 132, no flow resistance of the outdoor
air being drawn into the room occurs at the heat exchanger 132.
[0119] A flow path of the room air discharged to an outside of the
room is identical to the heat exchange mode.
[0120] However, since only the room air being discharged to an
outside of the room flows through the heat exchanger 132, but not
the outdoor air being supplied to the room, no heat exchange occurs
at the heat exchanger 132.
[0121] By controlling a degree of opening of the air discharge
damper 128, a flow rate of the room air discharged through the air
discharge space 122 is controlled.
[0122] This is because the room air being discharged may cause a
flow resistance as the room air passes through the air discharge
passage of the heat exchanger. Therefore, the controller (not
shown) calculates an discharge rate of the room air according to a
required amount of ventilation, and the degree of opening of the
discharge damper 128 is controlled according to the calculated
discharge rate, for minimizing an energy loss.
[0123] That is, if ventilation is required due to heavy pollution
of room air, the air discharge damper 128 is opened to the maximum,
to increase a flow rate of the room air discharged to an outside of
the room, to maximize a ventilation rate.
[0124] Opposite to this, if the pollution of room air is low, the
degree of opening of the air discharge damper 128 is reduced, to
reduce the flow rate of the room air discharged to an outside of
the room through the heat exchanger 132, and to increase the flow
rate of the room air passed through, and filtered at the air
cleaning filter 150, and re-circulated through the room, to reduce
the energy loss in cleaning the room air.
[0125] Next, the exclusive room air cleaning mode will be
described.
[0126] The exclusive room air cleaning mode is a mode in which, if
no ventilation is required as the room air pollution is at an
appropriate level, only the room air is circulated, to filter
foreign matter without ventilation, for reducing an energy required
for air conditioning.
[0127] In the exclusive room air cleaning mode, all the air supply
damper 118, the air discharge damper 128, and the bypass damper 168
are closed.
[0128] Therefore, no outdoor air is supplied to the room through
the air supply flow passage 110, and the bypass flow passage 160,
and also no room air is discharged to an outside of the room
through the air discharge flow passage 120.
[0129] Only the air drawn into the air discharge fan 124 through
the room air inlet 126 passes through the outlet 146, is filtered
at the air cleaning filter 150, and re-circulates the room.
[0130] As has been described, the ventilating system of the present
invention has the following advantages.
[0131] Since, in the case of the ventilating system, the air supply
fan and the air discharge fan are arranged in an up/down direction
horizontally, the fan unit room which accommodates the supply fan
and the air discharge fan therein and the heat transfer space which
accommodates the heat exchanger therein are arranged in a
front/rear direction, and the air supply flow passage and the air
discharge flow passage are arranged in a left/right direction, to
make a thickness of the case thin, the ventilating system of the
present invention can be installed in a small space easily, and
installation of the ventilating system can still provides an
elegant appearance even if the ventilating system is installed on
an underside of a ceiling of a room as projection from the ceiling
is small.
[0132] Since the air flow rate of the air discharge fan is greater
than the air flow rate of the air supply fan, to balance the air
flow rate supplied to the room with the air flow rate discharged to
an outside of the room, ventilation is smooth.
[0133] The heat exchange mode, the bypass mode, and the exclusive
room air cleaning mode of the present invention permit to operate
the ventilating system in an optimum mode. Accordingly, unnecessary
energy loss can be reduced to the minimum.
[0134] Moreover, by controlling a degree of opening of the air
discharge damper, the air flow rate of the room air discharged to
an outside of the room is controlled to be optimum. Accordingly,
the flow resistance, and a loss of energy required for
cooling/heating of the room can be minimized.
[0135] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *